Ankle-supporter for shoes



(Model.) I

. G. WALLACE. n

\ ANKLE SUPPORTBR POR SHQES. l No. 260,069. PatenlfmadJune 27,188.2.`

N. #nana Phawumqmpner. wammgw". D4 cA UNITED STATES PATENT QEEIEE?.

STEPHEN G. WALLACE, OF GAMDEN, VNEW JERSEY.

ANKLE-SUPPORTER FOR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 260,069, dated June 27, 1882. Application filed January 5,1882. (Model.)

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, STEPHEN G. WALLACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oamden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ankle-Supporters for Shoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to shoes having braces for supporting-the ankle and the uppers.

The nature of the invention will hereinafter be more fully described, and the novelty pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a section of the upper, Yshowing the brace inserted in a pocket or sleeve formed by attaching a leather strip upon the inside ot' the upper; Fig. 2,-a side elevation of an upper, showing the leather strips in dotted lines; Fig. 3, a section of an upper, showing the brace inserted between the lining and leather; Fig. 4, a brace having a sheathing of any suitable material; Fig. 5, a view of the same brace with sheath removed Fig. 6, a modiiied form of brace; Fig. 7 a. section of part of an upper and heel, showing the manner of attaching the base-plate; Fig. 8, detail views, showing a strap which is attached near the top of the upper and is used as a substitute for the longitudinal strip shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 9, an enlarged view, showing the brace in a sheath and inserted between the lining and leather.

A represents an upper; B, a brace; C, a sheath; D, a heel; D, an insole; E, leather strip attached to the yupper and forming a pocket or sleeve for the brace, and F a lining.

Brace or supporter B is made of two partsto wit, shank B and base-plate B. 'The shank may be made of any suitable material; but steel, elastic enough to allow the ankle free pla-y, but not to bend, is preferred. It is vpivoted to the base-plate at b, sothat it will be free to work Vbackward. and forward in unison with the motion of the foot in walking. The lower corners of the shank are rounded to prevent the oscillating movement being stopped by the end coming in contact with the basebut is preferably made of light iron bent upon itself, as shown. The vertical por-tion serves as a support for and is loosely riveted to shank Y yB', as at b. The horizontal portion is made straight, and when in use is inserted between the insolev and the heel or intervening parts, and may be nailed, screwed, or pasted to the parts with which it is in contact. The shank is inserted into a sleeve formed in either or both sides of an upper. This sleeve may be made by attaching a strip of leather, E, Figs. l and 2, from the top or near the top ofthe upper to the bottom. It may be either inside or outside, the latter being generally preferred when the brace or stiener is attached after the shoev has been made; or, if preferred, a narrow strip, E, (shown in Fig. 8,) may be attached crosswise near the top of the upper, forming aloop, into which the end of the shank might pass. In some cases the shank may be inserted between the lining and the upper. Before inserting the shank in the sleeve a sheath, made of any soft material-such as chamois-skinmay be placed over the shank to prevent it from wearing out the leather or abrading the skin of the foot.

The advantages of this construction are manifold. It is cheap, easily made, and can be attached by an unskilled person. In use it allows the shoe to bend forward and backward when the wearer lis walking, preventing abrasion of the skin, which a rigid brace or stiifener would produce. It is also rigid enough laterally to prevent the foot from turning upon the ankle, but elastic enough to allow it tomove naturally. In bathing or like kind of shoes the braces, in addition to supporting the ankle, will hold the shoe in shape, giving it a neat appearance that otherwise it would not have. The strips E in all cases may be made of any material that will suit the uppers.

I am aware that it is old to provide shoes IOO with a stiiening device placed in a sleeve located in the rear of the shoe; but this stliener is not pivoted, so that in walking the brace will partake of the motion given to the shoe by the foot. I therefore do not broadly claim a shoe-stil'ener; but

Vhat I claim as new is- 1. A shoe or ankle supporter consisting of a shank and base-plate, said shank being inserted in and combined with an upper at a point parallel to the ankle and pivoted to a base-plate attached tothe shoe, in the manner substantially as described, so that in walking the'l pivoted shank will move in unison with the foot, for the purpose set forth.

2. A shoe and ankle supporter consisting of a shank and base-plate, said shank being pivoted to the base-plate and inserted in the up- 2o for the purposes set forth.

3.. A shoe and ankle supporter consisting of a shank pivoted to a base-plate, said shank being curved to follow the contour of the foot, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. A shoe or ankle supporter consisting of a shank and base-plate, said shank being covered with a sheath, the whole inserted in a sleeve located in the shoe, and the shank pivoted to the base-plate, in the manner described, so that said shank will4 move in unison with the oot in Walking.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

STEPHEN G. WALLACE.

Witnesses: A

HUGH W. CAssADY, J AMES M. CAssADY.. 

